If you are a faithful reader of our site, you may recall our interview with Indiana Landmarks President, Marsh Davis, cited the Board of Trade building as one of the bigger losses to preservation in Indianapolis. The building was also seen in this morning’s “Then and Now” post.
The Board of Trade building was finished in 1905 as the home of the Board of Trade business club. The eight-story building was constructed of a reinforced concrete frame with brick curtain walls, probably one of the first instances of such construction in the city.
A postcard sent shortly after completion of the “dandy” building. The view looks southeast from Ohio Street.
Board of Trade building soon after completion, looking south (Hyman’s Handbook to Indianapolis, 1907)
View from the Circle of Christ Church Cathedral with the Board of Trade building behind, probably around the 1920s. Note that the ornamental scallops on the top edge of the cornice had been removed by this point.
1934 photo of Christ Church, again with the Board of Trade in the background. (Historic American Buildings Survey)
Christ Church Cathedral, 1975. The Board of Trade building still stood just to the north of the church, but with a much more simiplified cornice. (IUPUI/IL collection)
The building stood for 77 years before being demolished in 1982. After the site was vacant for a couple years, the Bank One Tower (now Chase Tower) was built on the site, being completed in 1990.
The demolition of the Board of Trade, 1982. This view looks southwest. (IUPUI/IL collection)
I am wondering if you had any information in your historical records in regard to a business that was supposed to be in the board of trade building?
The time frame that I have available to me is 1979 and the company was called ( I am guessing ), The William A. Ince co., suite 314 I believe.
I am asking because my mother met a lady in Florida while on vacation and when she found out that my mom lives in Tennessee she told her a mysterious tale of her father George ” Jimmy” Ince, the son of William, who left Indianapolis with an amount of jewelry worth $30,000 to $40,000 headed to Ft. Wayne. But his body was found on Nov 17th in Campbell county Tennessee where he had been killed apparently by a blow to his head. The lady told my mom that she had over the years contacted the police in this county and even the TBI only to be told at some point she should just drop the whole thing and she stated that his murder was never solved. I have tried to find out any information about this company or anything else on this case with no luck. Just wanted to verify this company was in this building. Just this information I found only on one website that had an article about this event came from an Indianapolis newspaper. Thanks.